Flashback August 14, 1999-2001

‘Spare part-time students from scholarship cut’[/B]

Northern Marianas College officials have prodded Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to spare them from a new policy that disallows the government to provide scholarships to part-time students attending the island’s lone higher learning institution. They warned the stringent regulation, which takes effect this semester, would force several of these scholars to drop out from college. Recipients of the locally-funded Educational Assistance Program comprise more than half of the student population at NMC.

Taxpayers patiently awaiting Earned Income Tax Credit can expect new checks in the mail within the next few days, representing the last batch of payment processed by the Department of Finance to meet its financial obligations for tax year 1997. Completing the entire EITC payment, the checks were mailed this week to a total of 2,045 recipients, mostly from low-income families, according to a statement issued by Finance Sec. Lucy DLG Nielsen.

With the constant threat of a federal takeover and continuing economic difficulties confronting businessmen, newly-appointed Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Gregg Kresge yesterday urged members to be more involved in the association and help the CNMI recover from the slump. The Chamber’s board of directors voted Kresge to succeed Kerry M. Deets, who resigned from the presidency four months ahead of the end of her term.

Website on Northern Islands launched[/B]

The Northern Islands has now its own website that its officials hope will open up opportunities for several of the small islands that have long been shut off from the rapid development in the three main islands of Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and other local officials as well as business leaders got a preview of the website (www.northernislands.org) during a launching party held last Friday at the mayor’s office in Garapan.

Former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio said yesterday he would seek again the highest post in the Commonwealth in next year’s general election under the Reform Party, contrary to rumors that he was backing out. The former local chief executive, who was then a Democrat, ran but lost in the 1997 polls to his uncle, incumbent Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, a Republican.

The Board of Elections has announced that eligible voters who wish to register to vote are required to provide proof of citizenship before they can register to vote in Commonwealth elections. A birth certificate or a United States passport are acceptable proofs of citizenship. Driver’s license and other types of identifications are not acceptable. This policy was implemented by the Board of Elections on Aug. 11, 2000.

NMC had only 978 graduates since ’94 [/B]

The Northern Marianas College has awarded eleven different degrees and certificates to only 978 students since 1994, a number described by the business community as “too low” to replace even a fraction of nonresident professionals now working in the CNMI. The degrees awarded by field of study from 1994 to 2000 include Business & Hospitality, Education, Liberal Arts General, Nursing & Allied Health, Public Safety Administration, and Trades & Technical.

The Commonwealth Development Authority opposes the passage of a measure that would amend the Investment Incentive Act, saying the proposed law would cater to only a select few and would further cripple the ailing CNMI economy. In a letter to Senate President Paul Manglona and House of Representatives Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, the CDA said that House Bill 12-380, which would primarily benefit past investors, violates a fundamental principle of law that past consideration is not adequate consideration under the law.